After choosing an installer and waiting the required time, when you finally see your car, you want the car window tinting to be perfect. If it’s not, you may either be able to claim warranty right away or may have to wait for the tints to cure and check the results again. In any case, these tips will come in handy for knowing whether you got a botched auto glass tint job.
Signs Of Poor Car Window Tint Installation
It’s important to know that some flaws are temporary. They go away on their own as the tint film cures. So, we will divide this guide into spotting a bad tint job during curing and after curing.
Signs Of A Bad Tint Job Before Or During Curing
Auto glass tint films and most similar car detailing products are vulnerable and delicate during the curing process, so determining whether a problem you’re seeing is just temporary or permanent can be difficult. But here are a few tinting problems that are usually permanent even if you spot them during curing. Some signs of this section overlap with the signs of a bad tint job after curing.
Note that some problems can arise during the curing phase due to poor aftercare, so make sure you follow the advice of the installer.
Visible Debris Between The Glass And The Tint
So, small air pockets and bubbles can go away after curing, but what can never go away, whether you see it during or after curing, is debris. Look closely with your phone’s flashlight for hair, lint, dust, speckles, or anything else stuck under the tint film. It can be hard to see in dark tints, but lighter shades will show this more clearly.
If there is any stuck debris, the installer didn’t clean the window glass properly or the installation wasn’t done in a completely enclosed or clean environment. If you see this, you don’t need to let the tint cure and look again, you should consult the installer and claim warranty.
Large Air Pockets Or Clusters Of Bubbles
Air bubbles during curing can or can’t be normal, depending on how big or frequent they are. If there are fewer bubbles and they are small, they may be temporary and go away after curing.
However, if you’re looking at large air bubbles or clusters of air bubbles, they are unlikely to go away at all or may not go away fully. This indicates that the glass wasn’t cleaned properly, the tint film wasn’t applied correctly, or a low-quality tint film or adhesive was used. Consult the installer to fix window tint bubbles.
Gaps And Uneven Lines Along The Edges
Another tinting installation fail that’s unrelated to curing is the cutting and application of the film along the edges of the glass. Look at the top edges of roll-down windows. The tint film should be smooth and run along the edge without any waviness or unevenness. If there are uneven lines and wavy gaps, you’re looking at a tint installation where the installer didn’t cut and apply the film properly.
Lifting Or Peeling Tint From The Edges
A lifting or peeling tint film from the edges is easy to notice, and it signals at various problems. The installer may not have used a high-quality adhesive, didn’t apply the adhesive properly, didn’t clean the surface properly, or any other issue.
However, if the peeling is minor, it’s not a big deal as long as you don’t touch it and go back to the installer. They will safely fix the peeling edges with adhesive and a card.
Major Wrinkles And Creases
Minor wrinkles and streaks may be normal when tints are curing, but if you notice very clear streaks and creases, consult the installer. The sign would be clearer if you also see air bubbles or peeling along with streaks. This means a bad window tint job.
If you’re having a paint protection film Springfield installed, many of these signs can also be used for ensuring if the installation was good or not.
Signs Of A Bad Tint Job After Curing
After curing, whatever you see is permanent. So, if there is a problem, it likely won’t go away unless the installer fixes it or reinstalls the tint film.
Bubbles And Air Pockets
Some minor bubbles and air pockets can form during curing and they go away after that. If you’re still seeing bubbles and air pockets on the tints after curing, they are permanent because they are trapped air or debris rather than minor moisture.
See the installer as they may be able to fix it by using heat and a squeegee or by chiseling dust. If not, they will have to perform a full replacement under warranty.
Discoloration Or Fading
If you see that the tint film is discoloring and turning purple, yellow, or any other color, this is a clear sign of a low-quality tint film. Check the warranty to see if discoloration is included. Usually, dyed films don’t cover discoloration, while high-quality tint films like ceramic and carbon tints come with a lifetime discoloration warranty.
Note that some window tint shops still require you to pay for the labor cost (installation cost minus the tint film’s cost) when the defect is related to the tint film and not the installer’s tint application.
Cloudy Dot Matrix Border
The rear windows of many cars have a non-removable ceramic dot matrix border. Applying a tint film to it is difficult and any minor mistake can lead to the dot matrix border looking cloudy or the tint film starting to peel from the area.
However, this is also a test of the installer’s expertise. If the area is too cloudy or there is any other problem, it shows a lack of proper application practices. So, consult the installer for a repair or replacement under warranty.
The Upper Edges Of The Window Allow Light
Even when you first checked the upper edges of the windows and they were even and without gaps, they can still cause problems after curing. If you start noting that the upper edges of a window are allowing more light than the rest of the window, it means the tint film is sliding down.
It can either be due to an installation error (improper adhesive application, low-quality adhesive, etc.) or an aftercare issue. However, do consult the installer for a fix.
Peeling Edges And Other Issues That Overlap With The Earlier Section
Peeling edges is a common problem during curing and even after curing. The cause can be a low-quality tint film, low-quality adhesive, improper cleaning, bad installation practices, or poor aftercare.
Other issues that are common and are signs of a bad installation job both during and after curing are:
- Uneven edges
- Debris stuck between the film and the glass
- Large air bubbles or air pockets
Conclusion
To ensure your car gets perfect window tints, check for these problems during and after curing. If you notice any of the problems, rush to the installer before the warranty expires. To avoid tinting installation problems, choose high-quality tints and a reputable auto tint shop Springfield.
